Position OverviewThe Director of Major Gifts is a senior frontline fundraiser responsible for building meaningful relationships with individual donors and securing significant philanthropic support for The Tech Interactive's mission and future.
This role manages a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, with a strong emphasis on identifying and cultivating new supporters and regularly soliciting five- and six-figure gifts. The Director will develop individualized engagement and solicitation strategies, partner closely with organizational leadership, and help connect donors' interests with The Tech's programs, exhibits, community impact, and long-term vision.
The Director will also contribute to The Tech's broader campaign efforts, helping develop donor strategies, case materials, and customized campaign proposals for significant prospects.
This exempt position reports to the Vice President of Development and works closely with the CEO.
Responsibilities - Manage and grow a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, leading relationships from identification and qualification through cultivation, solicitation, closing, and stewardship.
- Regularly solicit five- and six-figure gifts and build a strong pipeline of new individual donors with the capacity and interest to make significant philanthropic investments.
- Develop thoughtful, individualized strategies that connect donor interests with The Tech's mission, programs, exhibits, community initiatives, and strategic priorities.
- Build relationships through meaningful donor engagement, including one-on-one meetings, visits, events, and other opportunities to deepen connection to The Tech.
- Partner with the Vice President of Development, CEO, individual gift officers, board members, and other organizational leaders on donor strategy, cultivation, and solicitation.
- Support campaign fundraising by helping develop prospect strategies, compelling proposals, cases for support, and customized materials for major and principal gift opportunities.
- Work with the Individual Gifts Officer and Donor Communications Manager to create effective cultivation and stewardship experiences for Leadership Circle and other major donors.
- Maintain a strong understanding of The Tech's programs, impact, and future plans and use donor and pipeline data to prioritize opportunities and drive results.
What You Bring- Approximately 5+ years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including demonstrated success managing relationships with individual major donors.
- A track record of personally cultivating, soliciting, and closing five-figure gifts, with demonstrated experience or readiness to regularly solicit six-figure gifts.
- Strong relationship-building instincts and the confidence to engage donors, board members, community leaders, and senior executives.
- Experience developing donor strategies and managing a portfolio and pipeline toward ambitious fundraising goals.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to translate organizational priorities into compelling donor conversations and proposals.
- Strong judgment, initiative, organization, and follow-through, with the ability to manage multiple sophisticated donor relationships simultaneously.
- Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
Working Conditions and Schedule- This role is based at The Tech Interactive in downtown San Jose and requires a meaningful on-site presence because relationship building is central to the position. Some flexibility to work from an alternative location may be available depending on business needs and scheduled meetings.
- The position also includes meetings with corporate partners throughout the Bay Area and occasional evening and weekend events.
